abbreviation
SME
ess-em-EE
SME (abbreviation) means Small and medium-sized enterprise: a business below a set threshold of staff numbers and turnover, used as an official category in government policy, lending and statistics. Example: “The grant is open to any SME with fewer than 250 employees.”
abbreviation
1
Small and medium-sized enterprise: a business below a set threshold of staff numbers and turnover, used as an official category in government policy, lending and statistics.
"The grant is open to any SME with fewer than 250 employees."
"SMEs account for the majority of private-sector jobs in the country."
2
Subject matter expert: the person with deep practical knowledge of a particular topic, consulted when a project needs authoritative detail.
"We need an SME from the claims team to review the training script."
How to use SME
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a smallish company, or the person who knows a subject inside out.
When to use it
Business and policy vocabulary; usually spelled out on first use in formal writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
SME lending
SME sector
SME owner
consult an SME
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The grant is open to any _____ with fewer than 250 employees.
Etymology
An initialism; the expansion depends on context.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What counts as an SME?
The thresholds vary by country. The widely used EU definition caps an SME at fewer than 250 employees with either turnover up to 50 million euros or a balance sheet up to 43 million. Other jurisdictions set their own limits, so always check whose definition applies.
What is the difference between SME and SMB?
They describe the same thing: smaller businesses. SME, 'small and medium-sized enterprise', is the standard term in the UK, EU and most official statistics. SMB, 'small and medium-sized business', is more common in American technology and sales.
How do you know which SME someone means?
Look at the sentence. If it takes a plural and sits beside words like funding, exports or lending, it means enterprises. If someone is 'an SME on' a topic or is being booked for a meeting, it means subject matter expert.
What is the meaning of SME?
"SME" (abbreviation) means small and medium-sized enterprise: a business below a set threshold of staff numbers and turnover, used as an official category in government policy, lending and statistics.
